“I Shine”

The second single from Fat Tony's new album Smart Ass Black Boy is a stark contrast to the first, "Hood Party". That song was packed with trenchant observations on gentrification and political readings of Drake mottos, first and foremost a hell of a good time with everyone involved operating at peak levels. "I Shine" contains just as many immediate pleasures, but it's probably not going to make very many barbecue mixes this summer. It's a much darker affair, with Tom Cruz's Southern rap lurch and minor-key Halloween synths, and it finds Tony foaming at the mouth, rabid in his intensity but in complete control of his aim. His targets-- anti-choice proponents, those against same-sex marriage-- aren't particularly contentious in this day and age (outside of rap, at least), but Tony's grim incredulity that people like this still exist prevents "I Shine" from coming off like he's just reaching for the lowest-hanging fruit. The fact it absolutely knocks doesn't hurt, either.